Disabled child’s class photo draws criticism, public apology

A Canadian photography company has apologized on Facebook after a mother made a public complaint about the way her son was photographed with the rest of his class at school.

Anne Belanger of New Westminster, British Columbia, told the newspaper The Province that she was heartbroken when she saw the class photo for her 7-year-old son Miles Ambridge, who has spinal muscular atrophy, off to the side in his wheelchair. Spinal muscular atrophy is a physical disability and does not affect cognitive ability. While the rest of the class sits together on bleachers, Miles is off to the side of the bleachers. You can see the photo here.

Belanger and Miles’ father Don Ambridge said they feel their son was discriminated against when he was separated from the class.

“Look at the angle that he was in,” Belanger told The Province. “He’s ostracized. He wants to be part of the gang so much.”

Miles’ parents told the newspaper they do not plan to show their son the photo but hope their experience will serve as a lesson to others about how to be more inclusive of disabled people.

The company responsible for the photos, Lifetouch Canada, issued the following statement on its Facebook page: “Lifetouch believes all students should be treated with respect and train our photographers accordingly. We made a mistake at Herbert Spencer elementary and we are sorry, but it was never intentional. We worked directly with the family and school to retake the class photo and the new portrait was delivered yesterday.”